diff --git a/usr.bin/mandoc/Makefile b/usr.bin/mandoc/Makefile
index 5fa7c99d8c55..6281b499d381 100644
--- a/usr.bin/mandoc/Makefile
+++ b/usr.bin/mandoc/Makefile
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ MDOCMLDIR=	${.CURDIR}/../../contrib/mdocml
 PROG=	mandoc
 MAN=	mandoc.1 eqn.7 mandoc_char.7 tbl.7 man.7 mdoc.7 # roff.7
 MLINKS=	mandoc.1 mdocml.1
-.if ${MK_MANDOCDB} != no
+.if ${MK_MANDOCDB} != no && ${MK_MAN_UTILS} != no
 MAN+=	apropos.1 makewhatis.8
 MLINKS+=	apropos.1 whatis.1
 LINKS=	${BINDIR}/mandoc ${BINDIR}/whatis \